Trump sparks fear as he hands powerful nuclear technology to foreign power as Iran war spirals

Donald Trump will allow Saudi Arabia to develop its own civilian nuclear program under a sweeping new deal as the Iran war heads towards the Red Sea and oil races towards $100 a barrel.

The deal is reportedly worth tens of billions of dollars and is structured to give US companies a central role in building the kingdom’s uranium enrichment facilities on Saudi soil.

Saudi leaders are said to have agreed to only limited international inspection of the facilities. These regulations aim to stop enriched fuel being diverted into weapons.

Some U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials opposed the plan because they feared the Saudis could use a civilian program as a stepping stone to nuclear weapons. Trump withdrew a previous requirement that such a deal be contingent on Saudi recognition of Israel.

Trump’s deal is expected to last 30 years and now heads to Congress, where opponents will need a veto-proof supermajority to block it.

The deal is controversial in part because the United States went to war with Iran to prevent Tehran from enriching uranium for its own nuclear program.

This comes as the war expanded this week when Iran-backed Houthi militants declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. The move threatens the Red Sea route through which the kingdom diverts millions of barrels of oil a day around the effectively closed Strait of Hormuz

Closing Bab al-Mandeb could also cut off a quarter of the world’s oil and natural gas supply. According to the New York Times, rising tensions in the Gulf caused Brent crude oil to rise to $95 per barrel on Wednesday morning.

Iran-backed Houthi militants declare naval blockade of Saudi Arabia this week

Trump’s deal is controversial in part because the United States went to war with Iran to prevent Tehran from enriching uranium for its own nuclear program.

Under the terms of the deal, Riyadh will be banned from enriching uranium alone or with another foreign partner for a decade if Washington objects after a joint study is completed.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously vowed that his country would “undoubtedly” produce nuclear weapons if Iran developed them.

The kingdom has faced increased drone and missile attacks on Iran’s military and civilian infrastructure since Tehran’s war with the United States resumed earlier this month.

Saudi officials insist the program is strictly civilian and will enable the kingdom to supply nuclear power to its homes, freeing up more crude for export.

The announcement came as U.S. forces completed an 11th consecutive night of attacks on Iran and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Tehran was not taking peace talks seriously.

Clashes flared up again two weeks ago after ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran failed, triggering ten consecutive nights of attacks on regime targets.

The United States is trying to cripple Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

A few weeks ago, America accused Iran of violating the Memorandum of Understanding by attacking oil tankers passing through the Persian Gulf.

Saudi leaders are said to have agreed to only limited international inspection of the facilities. These regulations aim to stop enriched fuel being diverted into weapons

Clashes flared up again two weeks ago after ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran failed, triggering ten consecutive nights of attacks on regime targets.

Iran responded to US attacks by launching suicide drones into Gulf countries

The US Navy also responded to Iran’s aggression, re-blocking all of the regime’s ports and seizing many of its ships.

Meanwhile, Iran responded by launching missile and drone attacks on water and power plants in the Gulf countries.

American military deaths in the war rose to 17, with nearly 100 US soldiers injured in Iranian attacks on bases in the Middle East over the past two weeks.